Investment banking course for Sixth Formers

Fourteen students from local Hertford state secondary schools have been selected to join 26 Haileybury Sixth Formers in a new course in international finance, enabling pupils to explore the world of the City.

The new course, launched by Haileybury last night, will lead to an examination gaining students the Introduction to Investment qualification from the Securities & Investment Institute (SII), a leading professional and qualifications development body for the securities and investment industry.

The Haileybury International Finance programme will run each Monday evening until March 2007 and will include a series of seminars covering the essential aspects of the investment industry, presentations from leading City professionals, an on-line equity investment competition and a tour of the City’s pre-eminent financial institutions.

Students will be given the opportunity to experience life in the City at first hand through a series of work placements at leading investment banks and the programme will culminate in the award of the SII Introduction to Investment professional qualification recognised throughout the City and in financial centres worldwide.

This is believed to be the first time an independent school in the UK has offered the SII accredited qualification to its pupils. It is recognised by QCA as equivalent to Level 3 on the National Qualifications Standard Framework and will also soon be awarded a UCAS points value.

The three local secondary schools whose students will also be taking part in the course are Presdales, Richard Hale and Simon Balle.

The course will be run by teachers Jonathan Cohen, the Head of Economics at Haileybury and formerly a leading City trainer, and Edmund Church, who has 14 years City experience, having been a senior trading floor expert for several US investment banks.

Mr Cohen says: "The programme has been specifically designed to give students from Haileybury and the local community an opportunity to understand and experience the world of international finance in a fun and exciting way. Hopefully they will be inspired and far better positioned to pursue a career in investment banking as a result."

The course is supported by a number of high-profile corporate partners from the City, including BPP Professional Education, the UK’s leading financial training provider.

Ruth Martin, Managing Director of the SII, will attend a function at Haileybury on Monday, 30 October 2006, during which the pupils will participate in an Investment Trading Game run by a major US investment bank, where the pupils will have the opportunity to pit their wits against some of the City’s leading traders.

Ms Martin said: "We are delighted Haileybury is running this initiative both for its own pupils and those from the local community. Our Introduction to Investment Award has an unrivalled reputation for giving students from all types of backgrounds a good initial grounding in financial services leading to work placements with key City employers."

Phil Morey, Managing Director of the Financial Services Division of BPP, said: "I’m really pleased that BPP is able to support this exciting initiative and I am sure the students will benefit hugely from using our course study material and their participation in the programme."